U.N. Body Bars Jews from Seat in Assembly, but Agency May Be Heard by Committee

May 4, 1947

Flushing Meadows (May. 2)

The General (steering) Committee of the U.N. General Assembly tonight defeated the Polish proposal that a Jewish representation be seated in the Assembly, and adopted an American resolution providing only that the steering committee recommend to the Assembly that it refer the Agency’s request to the Political Committee for consideration.

The U.S. resolution does not guarantee the Agency a hearing before the Political Committee, as advocated earlier by Sen. Austin, but merely places the Zionist’s plea before that body, which can then decide to invite a Jewish spokesman.

The vote on the Polish resolution, which called for an Agency seat in the Assembly, was eight against and three for, with three abstentions — Brazil, Ecuador and Bonduras. Only Poland, Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union voted for it. The vote on the American resolution was 11 for, none against, with three abstentions. Those abstaining were Poland and the two nations supporting its resolution.

The Austin resolution, as finally adopted with a British amendment, reads as follows: “The General Committee, having considered the communications referred to it by the President of the General Assembly from the Jewish Agency and other organizations requesting that they be permitted to express their views on the Palestine problem, recommends to the General Assembly that it refer these communications, as well as any communications of a similar character which may be submitted to this special session, to the first committee for its decision.” The reference to “communications of a similar character…” constituted the British amendment. (See Earlier Story on Following Pages)